Feeding mechanism for labels and the like



A. ER'AsNog Dec. 17, 1.957 FEEDING MECHANISM FORFLABELS AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1955 l 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 IIYVF/YTOR uom/ w gar m m R n FEEDING MECHANISM FOR LABELS AND THE LIKE Ariosto Seragnoli, Bologna, Italy Application March 24, 1955, Serial No. 496,586

7 4 Claims. (Cl. 271-20) This invention relates to a mechanism to separate and remove individual labels from a label magazine and to convey each individual label to an accepting means to which they have to be delivered.

This mechanism is particularly suitable for feeding to wrapping machines, labels which frequently are heavy, narrow and long strips of somewhat stiff material, so that with the usual mechanisms it is very difiicult to separate each of them from the others and to takethem out of the magazine one at a time.

The main characteristic of this invention is that the labels are placed in the magazine in such a manner that the walls of the magazine, which slopes down towards an exit, faces pick-up means which hold each label to be picked out, only at its extremities, leaving each free in its central part so that the central part will bend outwards, due to the action of its own weight. Each label is successively separated from the others and picked up by suction at two points distant from each other; said pick-up means are then brought closer to each other, thus causing the label to bend still more, so as to separate it from the others and to free it from the magazine by making its extremities slide out from the retaining means of the magazine.

The following specification of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not limitative. It relates to a preferred embodiment shown as an example in the specification and in the figures which are an integral part of it, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a section of the mechanism made on a vertical plane passing through the axis of the hollow shaft 17.

In the preferred embodiment described here as an example, the invention comprises a stationary magazine 11 for containing the labels to be distributed. The magazine is fixed to the frame of a supporting mechanism (not shown) and slopes down towards a pick-up means. The magazine is provided with lateral walls and with retaining projections 12, placed in the lower part thereof. Against the projections rests the bottom label 13 to be distributed. The pick-up means comprises suction tubes 14 and 15 open at their ends fronting the bottom label. A hearing 19 is provided, carried by a slide 32, guided on frame 27. A hollow shaft 17, with a cap at one end with the other end joined to a flexible suction pipe 22 rotates and axially slides on hearing 19, carrying the pick-up means subject to the suction through hole 35 (shown in Fig. 2). The suction is provided by means of any known type, and is not a part of the invention, nor is it shown in the drawings nor described in the specification. The suction means alternately applies and ceases the suction, or alternatively, applies a suction and a blowing pressure to the open ends of the suction tubes 14 and 15, through the flexible connecting pipe 22. A sleeve 18, sliding but not rotating on said hollow shaft 17, carries the suction tube 15, which is subject to the suction, through hole 36, as shown in Fig. 2. A pair United States Patent 0 2,816,760 Patented Dec. 17, 1957 of conical discs 25 and 23. are provided, the first connected with sleeve 18 and the latter with the hollow shaft 17. Pin 37 is carried by disc 25 and passes through a hole on the disc 23 so as to compel shaft 17 and sleeve 18 to rotate together. A spring 26 axially pushes the sleeve 18 with respect to shaft 17. A wedge 29 is guided by stationary guides, fixed to the frame 27, which are not shown in the drawings. The wedge is movable in the direction of arrow 34 and in the opposite direction. A spring 24 axially pushes shaft 17 with respect to hearing 19. A rack 21 is meshed with a pinion 20, which in turn is connected with shaft 17. The teeth of the pinion are long enough to mesh with the rack when shaft 17 moves axially in the direction of arrow 30. Means are also provided to alternatively move wedge 29 in the 'magazine, they weigh against retaining projections 12 and are supported Withthe central part slightly bent outwards, as shown in Fig. l. The wedge 29 is at this time withdrawn from the conical discs 23 and 25, as shown in Fig. 1.

Spring 26 spaces the suction tubes 14 and 15 apart from each other, while spring 24 keeps shaft 17 entirely displaced towards the left, as shown in the figures.

Successively, the rack 21 is advanced in the direction opposite to arrow 28 and causes shaft 17 and sleeve 18 to rotate together, so as to push the open ends of the suction tubes 14 and 15 against the label 13.

Now, by means of the suction means, air is sucked through pipe 22, providing a suction at the ends of suction tubes 14 and 15, causing adherence to label 13. Successively, wedge 29 is advanced in the direction of arrow 34 between the conical discs 25 and 23 causing the suction tubes 14 and 15 to move one towards the other, in the direction of arrows 30 and 31 respectively.

Label 13 is thus further bent outwardly until its ends are drawn out from the projections 12 sliding against the corresponding ends of the following label.

Successively, the rack 21 goes back in the direction of arrow 28 and causes the pick-up means to transport the picked up label 13. Successively, wedge 29 leaves the conical discs 23 and 25 and the pick-up means withdraw from each other, allowing label 13 to resume its fiat shape while it is carried to its delivery point. Thereafter the suction is discontinued or alternatively a blowing pressure is applied, so as to free the distributed label from the pick-up means, leaving it to the accepting means, not shown, to which it is delivered. The accepting means is not a part of the invention and may be of any known type.

In the illustrated manner of operation, the hollow shaft 17 and the sleeve 18 only rotate and axially slide. It is also possible to superimpose to said movements a translation movement in the direction of arrow 33, advancing the slide 32 which carries bearing 19.

The movement of slide 32 may be operated by a mechanism of any known type, for instance a cam mechanism.

The distributed label may thus be carried for a long distance without the need of long arms for the pick-up means. A more suitable relationship may thereby be obtained between the positions of the magazine and the accepting means to which the label has to be delivered.

Having thus described the invention with reference to a preferred manner of embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after having understood the invention, that many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended by the following claims to cover also all the changes and modificationswhichenter into the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Feeding mechanism for labels and the-like comprising a label magazine having projections at each end thereof to retain the ends of the flexible labels, the labels being free of support at'the center to permit bending under the action of their weight; a pair of pick-up means roltatably mounted and linearly movableuin a direction parallel to their rotation .axis, said pick-up means-provided with suction openings for. pneumatically attaching the lowest label thereto at not-less-than two points; said pick-up means being movable towards each other, so as to make the attached label bend further and to separate it from the other labels by drawingtits ends out from the projections; said pick-up means being rotatable withqthe attached label, and movable to the delivery point for release therefrom.

2. in the feeding mechanism of claim 1 wherein the pick-up means comprises a hollow shaft supported by a bearing; a linearly sliding sleeve mounted over said hollow shaft and having a suction port; one. of saidpickup means carried by said hollow shaft and the other by the sleeve; said sleeve and hollow shaft provided with holes and ducts to connect with the pick-up means.

3. In the feeding mechanism of claim 1 wherein is provided means to bring the pick-up means nearer to each other, said means comprising conical discs, a wedge acting between said discs; a hollow shaft supported by a bearing; a linearly sliding sleeve mounted over said hollow shaft; springs pushing between the hollow shaft and the sleeve and between the hollow shaft and the bearing to keep them in position; a pinion carried by the hollows-shaft; a rack meshed together with said pinion, said rack being linearly-movable to cause the hollow shaft to rotate: and take the label to be distributed out from the magazine and to carry and discharge it at the point" of: delivery.

4. In the feeding mechanism of claim 1 wherein is provided a bearing by which a hollow shaft is guided; a slide carrying said bearing, guided in the frame; a pinion carried by the hollow shaft; a rack meshed together. with said pinion; said bearing and said rack being movableso as to give tothehollow shaft a rotating and translating movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416;983 Schoenwetter May 23, 1922 1,458,462 "'Braunstein June 12, 1923 1,622,5l8 Johnson Mar. 29, 1927 

